Svante Myrick: From homeless to mayor at only 24 years old

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For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

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FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

At just 24-years-old, Svante Myrick is the youngest mayor ever elected in the city of Ithaca, New York.

The Cornell University graduate began serving on Ithaca's City Council while still in college. He garnered the endorsements of seasoned politicians in his bid for mayor, but it seems his upbringing really resonated with the town's voters.

Myrick's family was at times homeless when he was young.  He was raised by his mother and grandparents in upstate New York. Myrick is biracial, the son of a white mother and African American father.  His upbringing and early political success has drawn comparisons to President Obama. While Myrick shies away from the comparison, he acknowledges that the president did inspire him. 

"Well, if this, you know, guy with that name and those ears can do it, then a guy with this name and these ears can do it," Myrick said.

Rock Center's Kate Snow met up with Myrick during his first day in office.

Editor's Note: Kate Snow's full story, 'Mr. Mayor,' airs Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 9/8c on NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams.